Stabilizer unit for canoes or the like



United States Patent [72] Inventor Emmett D. Beckner 8360 Westwood Road, Spring Lake Park, Minnesota 55433 [211 App]. No. 786,324 [22] Filed Dec. 23, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 3, 1970 [54] STABILIZER UNIT FOR CANOES OR THE LIKE 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 114/123 [51] Int. Cl B63b 43/14 [50] Field ofSearch 114/123, 0.5, 0.5(F); 9/1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,446,172 5/1969 Morton et al. 114/0.5(F)UX FOREIGN PATENTS 586,995 11/1959 Canada 114/123 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Science Publication Aug. 1955 pages 194 and 195 relied on. Copy in 114 123 ofGroup 315 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix A ttorney- Merchant and Gould ABSTRACT: A stabilizer unit for canoes having a pair of Iongitudinally extended rigid support elements and a pair of connector members one each extending between common opposite ends of the support elements. A polyurethane foam stabilizer float is carried by and encloses a portion of each of the connector members. Mounting means is carried by the support elements for adjustments longitudinally thereof and for mounting the support elements to the canoe so as to extend transversely thereof between the fore and aft portions of the canoe and the support elements and connector members are formed to position the polyurethane stabilizer floats below the level of the gunwales of the canoe.

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ll ll 17 1 --13 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stabilizer unit for canoes and more particularly toa collapsible stabilizer unit having cylindrical polyurethane foam floats formed thereon.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many devices of the above character have been manufactured to act as stabilizing means for boats or canoes. Such devices normally include a pair of float elements and means for connecting same to the boat or canoe. In some cases the floats are formed from inflatable members that normally require bracket elements encircling same to mount the floats to a boat or canoe. Such bracket-elements tend to create additional drag problems, thus making it more difficult to propel the boat or canoe. Other floats are normally made of buoyant materials which require the floats to be of a size which is somewhat encumbering. The frame means for securing the various floats to the canoes or boats is generally formed from articulated arms or various other adjustable connections for positioning the floats relative to the water line of the canoe or boat. The above devices have such disadvantages as creating too much drag in the water, bulkiness (making it more difficult to portage the canoe or boat), and multiple types of articulate and/or adjustable mounting frames are expensive to manufacture, heavy in weight, and usually are so mounted on the boat or canoe as to add undue stress to the point of attachment thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of-my invention to provide a device of the class above described which is extremely light in weight, does not add undue stress to parts of the canoe on which it is mounted, and provides a maximum of buoyancy and stability to the canoe.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device of the class above described which is easily detatched from the canoe when not in use, simple to disassemble, and easy to store within the canoe during portage and normal use thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which is extremely inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use, and which may be easily adjusted transversely of the canoe to offset offcenter weight with respect to the canoe.

To the above ends there is provided a pair of longitudinally extended rigid support elements. Mounting means are carried by the support elements for adjustments longitudinally thereof to secure same to the gunwales ofthe canoe in a manner to extend transversely of the canoe between the fore and aft portions thereof. A pair of connector members extend one each between common opposite ends of the support elements and a polyurethane float is carried by each of the connector members. The common opposite ends of the support elements and opposite ends ofthe connector members are formed to extend angularly with respect to the respective longitudinal axis of each thereof and the common opposite ends of the support elements and adjacent opposite ends of the connector members are telescopically mountedone within the other so as to position the float elements below the level of the gunwales of the canoe. Each of the stabilizer floats are formed in a cylindrical shape so as to enclose a portion of a respective connector member and opposite ends of each ofthe floats are tapered toward their respective connector member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings wherein like characters represent like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a canoe showing a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the structure of FIG. 1 showing the canoe floating in a body of water;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation ofthe structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a mounting bracket as seen generally from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view in longitudinal section as seen from the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, portions thereof broken away; and

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of an alternate stabilizer float construction, portions thereof broken away and shown in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, a stabilizer unit is indicated generally by the numeral 10. Stabilizer unit 10 includes a pair of longitudinally extended, rigid, tubular support elements ll, 12. Each of the support elements ll, 12 has mounted thereon mounting means in the nature of a pair of brackets 13. Each of the brackets 13 is substantially identical and, as shown in FIG. '4, is slidably mounted for movements longitudinally of a respective support element l1, 12. A setscrew 14, threadedly engaged in each of the brackets 13, locks each of theYbrackets 13 against sliding movements longitudinally of a respective support element ll, 12. A right-angularly extended foot '15 on each of the brackets 13 is provided with an opening, not shown, which is adapted to receive a threaded bolt mounted in the gunwale 16 of a canoe 17. A wingnut has engagement with each of the bolts carried by the gunwale l6 and securely mounts the bracket 13 to the gunwales. As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the brackets 13 are positioned to mount their respective support members ll, 12 so they extend transversely of the canoe between the fore and aft portions thereof.

The support members 11, I2 are mounted on the gunwales 16 so as to extend along generally parallel axes and a pair of longitudinally extended connector members l8, 19 extend between common opposite ends of the support elements ll, 12 on opposite sides of the canoe 17. Each of the common opposite ends of the support elements 11, I2 and the opposite ends of the connector members l8, 19 are formed to define portions 11a, 12a and 18a, 19a, respectively, which extend angularly with respect to the respective longitudinal axis of each thereof. As shown, the angularly formed portions 11a, 12a of the support elements 11, 12 are formed at an angle of approximately and the opposite end portions 18a, 19a of each of the connector members I8, 19 are formed at approximately a 45 angle whereby portions lla, 12a, and 18a, 19a extend angularly downwardly along converging axes toward adjacent ends of respective connector members 18, 19. It will be herein noted that the angular relationship of the end portions of the support members 11, 12 and connector members 18, I9 heretofore described are for illustrative purposes only and such portions may be formed'to extend at any appropriate angle which will compliment one another so as to permit telescopic reception-of respective portions 110, 12a and I8a, 19a. As shown particularly in FIG. 5, each of the angularly formed opposite end portions 18a, 19a of the connector members l8, 19 have diametrically reduced portions which are adapted to be telescopically received in an adjacent one of the angular portions 11a, 12a of adjacent common ends of the support elementsll,12.'

For the purpose ofproviding buoyancy to the stabilizer unit 10, a pair of stabilizer floats 20, 21 are carried, one each, by one of the connector members 18, 19 respectively. The stabilizer floats 20, 21, are each formed from a closed cell polyurethane plastic foam which is molded into a cylindrical form so as to enclose a respective connector member l8, 19 along a portion thereof. Each of the stabilizer floats 20, 21 is further formed so as to taper at opposite ends thereof in order to present a minimum of resistance to water as it passes therethrough in either direction longitudinally thereof. It will be noted, that such resistance is further reduced by virtue of the fact that such plastic material, during the molding process, acquires a relatively smooth skin, such as indicated in FIG. 5 by the numeral 21a.

FIG. 6*of the drawings shows an alternate method of construction of the floats 20, 21 and parts thereof similar to the floats 20, 21 bear like numerals with a prime mark added. The

float 21' of FIG. 6 includes a pair of substantially identical, semicylindrical, half shells of plastic sheet material 22, 23. The half shells 22, 23 are formed by a vacuum molding process and taper at opposite ends thereof so as to present a minimum of resistance as the float 21' passes, longitudinally thereof, through water. In addition, each of the half shells 22, 23 are formed with flanges 24, 25, which extend along opposite longitudinal edges thereof. Each of the half shells 22, 23 are positioned above and below the connector member 19' such as to bring the flanges 24, 25 into juxtaposition and a generally cross-sectionally U-shaped joining member 26 is received over the flanges 24, 25 and secured thereto by a suitable adhesive. In this manner, means has been provided to mount the pairs of half shells 22, 23 so as to enclose a portion of a respective connector member 19' in a manner similar to that of the floats 20, 21 of FIG. 1. When the half shells 22, 23 have been mounted to the connector member 19, as above described, a closed cell polyurethane foam plastic is foamed in place interiorally of the shells 22, 23 to complete the structure. It will be seen that the float 21 provides a structure which is less subject to damage due to impact or engagement with sharp objects such as rocks or the like without any appreciable additional weight to the floats 20, 21 such as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3 the angularly formed end portions 11a, 12a, and 18a, 19a of the support elements 11, 12 and connector members 18, 19 respectively, cooperate to position the stabilizer floats 20, 21 below the level of a plane extending through the gunwales 16 of the canoe l7 approximately at the level of the water line of the canoe 17. It will be appreciated that the pontoons 20, 21 will be positioned just slightly above the water when the canoe 17 is in an unloaded condition and upon loading of the canoe will assume a position at water level to provide a maximum of stability to the canoe 17. Also, it will be seen that since the portions 11a, 12a, and 18a, 19a extend angularly downwardly along converging axes toward adjacent ends of respective connector members 18, 19 torsional or twisting forces are not imparted to the support members 11, 12, brackets 13, and gunwales of the canoe 17 by the stabilizer floats 20, 21 or 21' passing through the water.

When it is desired to assemble the stabilizer unit 10 and mount same in a position illustrated by full lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the angularly formed end portions 11a, 12a of the support elements 11, 12 are moved from the dotted line position to the full line position to telescopically receive an adjacent angularly formed opposite end portion 18a, 19a of the connector members 18, 19. Thereafter, the brackets 13 are one each positioned to receive a bolt, carried by the gunwales 16 of canoe 17, through an opening, not shown, but formed in the foot 15 thereof and a wingnut is threadedly engaged on the bolt to securely lock the brackets 13 in place. When the brackets 13 have been securely fixed to the gunwales 16 of the canoe 17 the support elements l1, l2 and float equipped connector members 18, 19 telescopically mounted thereto are adjusted transversely of the canoe 17 to move the floats 20, 21 to a desired position relative to the load distribution within the canoe. Thereafter, the setscrews 14 are set to lock the support elements 11, 12 in their desired position.

In the above structure it will be noted that the support elements 11, 12 and connector members 18, 19 are formed from a thin wall tubular conduit. As such, together with the inherent lightness of the polyurethane foam floats, an extreme light, relatively strong stabilizer unit 10 is provided for canoes 17. In addition, the unit 10 may be easily disassembled, without the use of tools, by releasing the wingnuts mounting brackets 13 and withdrawing portions 18a, 19a, from respective portions 11a, 12a. lion such disassembly the various parts are tied to conventional crossbraces of canoe 17 and same is ready for normal use in water and/or portage over land with but a very limited additional weight.

lclaim:

1. A stabilizer unit for canoes or the like having fore and aft portions and laterally spaced gunwales comprisinga. a pair of longitudinally extended rigid support elements;

b. mounting means for securing each of said support elements to the gunwales of the canoe to extend transversely thereof between the fore and aft portions;

c. a pair of longitudinally extended connector members, one each extending between common opposite ends of said support elements;

. a stabilizer float carried by each connector member;

e. one of said pair of support elements and connector members having a portion thereof positioned below the level of a plane extending through the gunwales of the canoe; whereby said floats are positioned below the gunwales; and

f. said portions extending angularly downwardly along converging axes toward a respective stabilizer float for positioning said connector members and floats below the gunwales of the canoe proximate the water line thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said stabilizer floats are formed of a closed-cell plastic foam and in which said foam is formed to enclose respective connector members along a portion thereof.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said floats are cylindrical and are tapered on opposite ends thereof.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said common opposite ends of each of said support elements and adjacent opposite ends of said connector members are formed to define portions which extend angularly with respect to the respective longitudinal axis of each thereof and in which said common end portions of each of said support elements and adjacent opposite end portions of said connector members are telescopically mounted one within the other.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said stabilizer unit is adjustable as a unit transversely of the canoe.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said floats each include:

a. a pair of substantially identical semicylindrical half shells of plastic sheet material which are tapered at opposite ends;

b. means mounting said pairs of half shells to enclose a portion of a respective connector member; and

c. each of said floats being filled with a foamed-in-place,

closed-cell foam plastic.

7. The structure of claim 1 in which said mounting means includes a pair of brackets carried by each of said support elements and in which said brackets are each adjustable longitudinally of their respective support elements. 

